great
Usage
What are other ways to say great?
In reference to the size and extent of concrete objects, great is highly formal and even poetic, suggesting also that the object is notable or imposing, large is only somewhat formal, and big is the most general and most colloquial word: a great oak; a large tree; a big tree; great plains; a large field; a big field. When the reference is to degree or a quality, great is the usual word: great beauty; great mistake; great surprise; although big sometimes alternates with it in colloquial style: a big mistake; a big surprise; large is usually not used in reference to degree, but may be used in a quantitative reference: a large number (great number).
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“Will we actually be able to build data centers in as great a scale as the market thinks? If we cannot, that will be enough to take down this AI trade,” he says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
Great to see him back, great to see him healthy and great to see him smiling.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
Such a gift likely would be a great investment for America’s children.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
“It’s great when you’re taking it with carbohydrates,” she says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
It was a propane tank turkey fryer and worked great for frybread.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
We instantly knew he was one of the greats.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
Irrespective of that space for silverware on his CV, how highly does Kane rank in the pantheon of greats who have represented the England men's team?
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
But concern is the prevailing mood among the culinary greats gathered in Mexico.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
“The greats aren’t perfect. But they do learn from their mistakes.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
I looked to the wall of old basketball greats.
From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben
Companies with weaker balance sheets and higher sensitivity to rising borrowing costs are receiving greater scrutiny from investors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
She describes herself as an entrepreneur and thinks in business terms dating events deliver "much greater return on investment".
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
Some environmental groups agree tribes should have a greater say, yet support the project because it’s pitched as a major cleanup effort.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
During a 2021 interview with Uncut, Love reflected on the message behind the Beach Boys’ song “Don’t Go Near the Water,” which addressed environmental pollution and encouraged greater awareness of humanity’s impact on the planet.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026
There was no way to open it without spreading the problem over a greater area, if you know what I mean.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
There is no shortage of potential big fights, but bringing the champions together before mandatory obligations, rematches and boxing politics get in the way could prove the greatest challenge.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
However, positioning the electrodes correctly remains one of the greatest challenges.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
“We saw it in the theater and she was like, ‘That is the greatest movie I’ve ever seen.’”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
“He’s proven that to us. He had the greatest game I’ve ever seen played by an individual player last year against us.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
“Thank you, Jakob. That is the greatest compliment.”
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Vocabulary lists containing great
Spelling Practice, Unit 8
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Spelling Practice, Unit 8
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Spelling Practice 1, Unit 5
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